COMy 2017 | A decade of advances in multiple myeloma and unanswered questions

Vincent Rajkumar, MD, from the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN discusses the questions that remain at the heart of multiple myeloma (MM) research, and the absence of a cure based on his talk at the International Myeloma Workshop (IMW) 2017. Dr Rajkumar identifies the need to focus research and studies on these unanswered questions in the next decade. The field requires a movement that shifts the concept of multiple myeloma as one disease, when in fact it is an assortment of diseases, where each disease needs its own treatment plan. Also, it is important to set goals for future research in terms of finding a cure for multiple myeloma or simply controlling it. There is no benefit of research, however, if drugs that are approved and brought into the market are not affordable for a significant number of patients, mainly in developing countries. Moreover, further evaluation and identification of new endpoints is required to speed up drug development and approval. Lastly, physicians need to work together and get involved in developing clinical trials that answer these big strategic questions, that will eventually aid in conquering the disease. This interview was recorded at the 2017 World Congress on Controversies in Multiple Myeloma (COMy) in Paris, France.